2K Hires Popular Battle Royale Producer to Rescue Troubled Action Game Ambitious Title

2K Games has welcomed a seasoned producer from Respawn Entertainment to lead the studio crew at 31st Union, which is currently crafting the upcoming third-person action-packed title known as Project Ethos.

Management Shift Comes After Mixed Response

Brinkman takes on the role of studio head at 31st Union following the dismissal of former leader the ex-Sledgehammer Games executive, who was removed from his post due to Project Ethos' underwhelming early showing last fall.

On Wednesday, the company's top executive a key figure informed team members about this strategic move through an internal memo, which stressed that playtesting had shown the requirement for a clearer vision.

Ismailer stated that the developers is now reimagining the project with a refreshed focus, aiming to better meet gamer demands.

A Pattern of Key Acquisitions

The news mirrors a comparable action taken by 2K Games in the summer, when they hired an industry veteran from Blizzard to assist with the BioShock development group.

Here is the full message from Ismailer's communication:

Hello Everyone—

I understand you all just finished your meeting - I trust you’re as thrilled as I am with the positive developments. Last time I sent you all a update, I expressed the following: “I am confident in this crew. You all are some of the most motivated and talented creators we have had the opportunity to partner with - and we’re excited for that partnership to persist.”

With your dedication and flexibility, especially over the past twelve months, you repeatedly show that.

The community feedback from last autumn’s Project ETHOS playtest was informative. It validated the promise of a roguelike shooter but indicated we still had refinements needed. It uncovered the necessity for a clearer brand.

It’s been inspiring to see how far you’ve progressed. You accepted the feedback to heart and revamped Project ETHOS with a renewed direction - one that’s positioned to fulfill its potential to our fans.

Our confidence in this project strengthens every day. To advance the incredible progress you’ve made, It is a pleasure to introduce the new hire as the new Studio Head of 31st Union. After some time of talks, he officially joins us on next week.

Ben’s guidance and experience in the competitive gaming space is considerable, having devoted the past decade and a half creating and managing some of the most popular titles in gaming, including Call of Duty: Black Ops, and most recently, Apex Legends.

Let’s together in greeting him in the coming days. We are all eager to persist witnessing the evolution of Project ETHOS in the weeks to follow.

David

Background of the Incoming Leader

Brinkman currently serves in the role of senior developer and production lead at Respawn Entertainment for their flagship title. Brinkman previously was employed at major gaming companies in diverse production roles on the Call of Duty series, and, prior to that, had assignments at 2K and Electronic Arts.

Game Information and Vision

Project Ethos was revealed in October 2024 together with a early access event. At the time, 31st Union portrayed the title as a "free-to-play, 3rd-person roguelike hero shooter and an innovative advancement on the genre."

"Build your perfect run—or die trying—in this 3rd-person action shooter! Customize your character in live gameplay to match your preferred approach," the game's pitch explains. "Take on the competition with unique powers, stakes, and tests that evolve every match. Will you leave securely with your collected items? Or take a risk, risk it all, and pray your group can secure victory? The option is up to you."

The game lacks an announced launch window or platforms, but players can look forward to additional details as development advances.